That is exactly what happened with the growth of ISIS, which President Obama said was like a JV team.
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Donald Trump said if president, he would know within six months whether or not his administration could achieve an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.
All 14 Republican presidential contenders descended on Washington Thursday for a conference that was slated to focus on foreign policy but took place in the shadow of another mass shooting in the United States. He stood in front of a pro-Israel crowd and told them Israel was (at least partially) to blame for the failure to come to terms with the Palestinians.
“Do me a favor, just relax”, Trump said to a booing audience member, which can be seen at the 24-minute mark.
He recalled being in Jerusalem last August, at a time “when Hamas was firing rockets out of Gaza aiming specifically, intentionally for civilian targets”.
Special attention Thursday will be on GOP front-runner Trump and two senators rising in the polls: Rubio and Cruz.
“There is no moral equivalence between Israel and those who seek to destroy her”, Rubio said in an address to the Republican Jewish Coalition. “We are in the process of nominating and electing a commander in chief”.
The speech by Trump, the real estate magnate, was also notable for touching on Jewish stereotypes – with references to money and negotiating skills – that drew rebukes from some Jewish conservatives on Twitter but were received with some laughter from the audience. “It’s a struggle to safeguard the future of Israel”. Trump responded, “Who’s the wiseguy?” “Is there anyone in this room who doesn’t negotiate deals?” he asked. “He has not read the Art of the Deal’ folks, I can tell you”. A Twitter debate erupted as Trump spoke.
Trump went on to kiss off his audience.
“I want to thank my Jewish daughter”. “Donald Trump is well aware of the composition of our board and our audience”, Mark McNulty said, “one that includes many successful business men and women as well as deal-makers like him”.
Trump had kicked off the event with several jabs at the well-heeled crowd, saying he didn’t want their money.
“The one thing I can tell you is that what Mr. Trump’s saying about how to handle this war is empowering the enemy”, Graham said, referring to the billionaire’s recent assertion that the US should “go after” the families of terrorists.
Trump was booed when he ducked the question after not mentioning it in his speech.
The Dec. 2 letter “Use caution in the Middle East” once again blames President Bush’s invasion of Iraq as the reason for the problem we face today.
A confident Bush was at home detailing his national security vision – he’s far better getting into the weeds of policy than he is at discussing campaign politics. “Here, context is everything”.
Another top GOP presidential candidate, Florida Sen.
The candidates planned to use their appearances before the Republican Jewish Coalition to boost their pro-Israel bona fides. “We do not believe he intended his comments regarding negotiations and money to relate specifically to their Jewishness, but we understand that they could be interpreted that way”. And he encouraged Trump “to clarify that this was not his intention, and that he rejects the traditional stereotypes about Jews and money”. “For someone who claims to be so smart, he should know better than to reinforce and legitimize this history old anti-Semitic canard”.
The attack led to widespread condemnation globally and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labelled it “terrorism”. “I’m a dealmaker. I believe I can put both sides together”.
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Trump sat down and shared his views on Israel in an AP Conversation – a series of extended interviews with the 2016 candidates to become the nation’s 45th president.
